Creating a new table from scratch

In PowerBuilder, you can create a new table in any database to which PowerBuilder is connected.

StepsTo create a table in the current database:

  1. Do one of the following:

    • Click the Create Table button.

    • Right-click in the Columns view and select New Table from the pop-up menu.

    • Right-click Tables in the Objects view and select New Table from the pop-up menu.

    • Select Insert>Table from the Object menu.

    The new table template displays in the Columns view. What you see in the view is DBMS-dependent. You use this template to specify each column in the table. The insertion point is in the Column Name box for the first column.

  2. Enter the required information for this column.

    For what to enter in each field, see “Specifying column definitions”.

    As you enter information, use the Tab key to move from place to place in the column definition. After defining the last item in the column definition, press the Tab key to display the work area for the next column.

  3. Repeat step 2 for each additional column in your table.

  4. (Optional) Select Object>Pending Syntax from the menu bar or select Pending Syntax from the pop-up menu to see the pending SQL syntax.

    If you have not already named the table, you must provide a name in the dialog box that displays. To hide the SQL syntax and return to the table columns, select Object>Pending Syntax from the menu bar.

  5. Click the Save button or select Save from the File or pop-up menu, then enter a name for the table in the Create New Table dialog box.

    PowerBuilder submits the pending SQL syntax statements it generated to the DBMS, and the table is created. The new table is displayed in the Object Layout view.

  6. Specify extended attributes for the columns.

    For what to enter in each field, see “Specifying column extended attributes”.